Fabric testing apparatus



.May 9, 1939. w, ALLEN ET AL 2,157,092

FABRIC TESTING APPARATUS F'ild June 24, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR: RAYMOND W ALLEN AND THEODORE A. EQROTEN/lU/S ATTOR Y May 9, 1939- R. w. ALLEN ET AL 2,157,092

FABRIC TESTING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ RAYMOND m A1, 5N

AND 77/ nuke-14.7%,? M1015 5v ATT RNEY May 9, 1939. R. w. ALLEN ET AL FABRIC TESTI'NGAPPARATUS 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed- June 24, 1936 s RN Y O E WM MWWW L A R m W 0 WMA .5 MM

May 9, 1939.

R. w. ALLEN ET AL 7,092

FABRIC TESTING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 A INVENTORE RAY/vulva 1M llLLE/V AND EGRoTEA/Hz/m;

'May 9, 1939. R. w. ALLEN ET AL 2,157,092

FABRIC TESTING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 7 Q B! o u E2 k BRAKE RiLEASE 1 l 3 f F a 5] A E- J 'V /TE5T PIECE y A I i g 1 TIRE CORD A a z 5 \J \I '5 A TIME A .055/5c. V ./Z 550.

INVENTOR$ RAYMOND M4 ALLEN AND THEODORE A. TEQ'ROTEN 1/15 BY I ATTOR Y May 9, 1939.

R. w. ALL N ET AL FABRIC TESTINGv APPARATUS Fiied June 24, 1956- 8 Sheets-Sheet B INVENTORS N w A m m 0 ow X MM m A i. W H E m Patented May 9, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT, oFrlce mimic TESTING APPARATUS poration of Ohio Application June 24, 1936, Serial No. 86,980 14 Claims. (01. 73-51) This invention relates to fabric testing apparatus, and more especially it relates to apparatus for determining the relative strength of the individual strands of which the fabric is composed.

The apparatusis of especial utility for testing the strands or cords of weftless or weak-wefted cord fabric such as is used in the manufacture of pneumatic tire casings. In order to obtain reliable data bearing onthe practicability of various cord constructions for use in pneumatic tires, it is essential that the testing thereof should simulate, as closely as possible, the various conditions that obtain in the fabric carcass of a tire when the latter is in actual use. Experience has shown that the greatest tensile strain on the fabric cords of a pneumatic tire in use occurs immediately after the cord has been flexed by the flattening of the tire by contact with the roadway, the recovery after .such flexure being in the nature of a snapping action that slightly elongates the cords beyond the elongation resulting from the normal internal pressure of the ture automatically is maintained at a determinate.

degree; to provide for gripping the respective end portions of the cord strands in such a manner as not to crush or weaken them at these points; to provide automatically and periodically to take up slack in the strands being tested; and to provide for accentuating the snap phase of the testing cycle so that the results of a relatively brief test in'the apparatus are comparable to the results of a relatively long period of use in a tire. Other objects will be manifest.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, in its preferred form;

:"fapparatus showing a Cleve mer ts shown Figure =2'in the positions they v assume after a strand hasfailedi'under test; 'd'elevation-of the Figure 4 is-afragmenta manually throw ing the, mechanism ,of the ative position;

pai altus to inoper Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 68 of Figure 2;

-Figure 7 is a section on the line II of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic view showing the work-holding elements of the apparatus in the position they assume during the taking up of the slack in the strand being tested;

Figure 9 is a view of the elements shown in Figure 8 as they appear during the work-flexing phase of the testing cycle;

Figure 10 is a view of the elements shown in Figure 8 as they appear during the snap phase of the testing cycle;

Figure 11 is a graph showing how the strains imposed upon cord strands in the testing apparatus compare-with the strains imposed upon similar cord strands in a tire in use;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary, diagrammatic view of a pneumatic tire showing deformation thereof in the region that is in contact with the roadway, and in the region immediately behind the latter region; and

Figure 13 is a rear elevation of the upper portion of the apparatus, with cover removed, showing the elements that provide heat for the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the improved testing apparatus comprises a pair of legs or standards 20, 20 that support a rectangular metal pan 2| having upturned marginal portions as shown. Mounted upon said pan is a main frame 22 that constitutes the opposite ends of a housing structure and mounted atop of said main frame is the top cover 23 of said housing. The main frame 22 comprises horizontal partition 24 that is disposed about midway between its top and bottom, which 4 partition constitutes the fioor of the housing. The front margin of the partition 24 is disposed somewhat rearwardly of the front of the main frame. Rising from the partition 24 and extending from end to end of the main frame is a vertical partition 25 that is disposed relatively near the rear of said main frame, and there are a plurality of slots 26, 26 in said partition 25 along the bottom thereof where it adjoins partition 24. The housing is provided with a rear cover 21 that extends-"from partition 24 to the top cover 23,

saidrear cover being removably secured in places my screws or other suitable means. The top cover 23; and're3i cover. 2-! preferably are covered with" or"coniposeti" of heatinsulating material 28, as showninFiguite'2 and one endpf the main framer 22 (the right end as viewed from the front thereof) may be similarly covered with the material 28, from the top plate to a point a little below partition 24, as is clearly shown in Figure 5.

Secured to the bottom face of horizontal partition 24 is a counter. frame 30 that extends from end to end of the main frame, and at its front extends beyond the front margin of said partition 24 as far as the front of the main frame. Fitting into the rectangular space defined by the front margins of the opposite ends of main frame 22, and front margins of top cover 23 and counter frame 30, is a door 3| that has two panes of glass 32, 32 mounted in parallel, spaced relation therein, said door constituting the front of the housing, and the double panes of glass being provided to prevent loss of heat therethrough. The door 3| is hinged at one end to the main frame and at its other end is provided with a latch 33 for holding it closed.

At the left hand end of the apparatus, as viewed from the front thereof, the main frame 22 is formed with a flange 35 that extends laterally of the end wall of said frame, on the four margins thereof, and secured to said flange is an end plate 36 that is integrally formed with a laterally extending bracket 31. The arrangement is such as to provide a chamber or space 38, Figure 5, between the end plate 36 and adjacent end wall of the main frame, which space. constitutes a gear case. Mounted upon the bracket 31 is a power unit consisting of a motor 39 that is coupled to a variable speed device 40, the latter being manually controllable by means of a handwheel 4| at the top thereof, whereby the rotative speed of the driving shaft 42 of the device may be selectively controlled.

Interiorly of the housing is a horizontal cam shaft 44 that is joumaled in suitable bearings in the opposite end walls of the main frame 22, one end of said cam shaft extending through the gear case chamber 38 and end plate 36, and being coupled, by means of coupling 45, to the driving shaft 42.

Mounted upon cam shaft 44, within gear case 38, is a pinion 46 that is meshed with an idler gear 41 that is journaled on a stub shaft 48 projecting from the end wall of main frame 22. The idler gear 47 is meshed with a gear 49 that is mounted upon the end of a second cam shaft 50 that is journaled in the opposite end walls of said main frame 22 below and parallel to the cam shaft 44. The ratio between pinion 46 and gear 49 is such that cam shaft 44 rotates four times as fast as cam shaft 56.

Formed integral with the horizontal partition 24 and vertical partition are a plurality of webs 52, 52 that are formed with journal bearings for supporting the upper cam shaft 44 intermediate journals on the end walls of the main frame. The number of webs 52 employed is exactly half the number of cord-testing units in the apparatus. In practice it has been found that twelve testing units is a convenient number to employ in a single apparatus. cam shaft 44 are a plurality of earns 53, 53 of which there is one for each testing unit, there being two cams disposed between adjacent webs 52, and between the latter and each end wall of the main frame.

Mounted in the end walls of main frame 22 and the webs 52 through which it passes is a rod or shaft 55 that is positioned adjacent vertical partition 25 and is parallel to cam shaft 44. J ournaled upon shaft 55 and extending forwardly therefrom over said cam shaft, in alignment with Keyed to the r the cams 53 thereon, are respective rocker arms 56, each of which carries a roller 51 that rests upon a cam, the arrangement being such that rotation of cam shaft 44 raises and lowers the rocker arms in unison. Each rocker arm 56 has one or more weights 58 removably secured therel o. The free end of each rocker arm is provided with work-gripping means that comprises a clamping plate 59 that is secured to the arm by means of a stud and nut 60. The adjacent faces of rocker arm and clamping plate constitute gripping jaws and are covered with soft rubber composition, as shown at 6|, 6!, so as not to bruise or crush the fibres of the test piece clamped therebetwecn, and the stud and nut engage the clamping plate near its upper end so that the pressure upon the test piece is progressively applied thereto, to the end that the test piece is not weakened by said clamping means at its point of engagement therewith. The test piece, which is designated 62, is a cord strand that extends downwardly from the free end of the rocker arm.

At their lower ends, each test piece 62 is connected to a weighted structure comprising a member 64 that is slidably mounted for vertical movement in the counter frame 30, the upper end of said member being provided with workgripping means similar to that provided at the ends of rocker arms 56, for clamping the test piece thereto. Said means comprises a clamping plate 65 secured to member 64 by a stud and nut 66, the adjacent faces of the clamping plate and member 64 being provided with rubber facing's 61, 61 to prevent crushing of the test piece and to avoid abrasion of the test piece at the edge of the clamping plate as the result of repeated tensioning and flexing. The stud and nut 66 engage the clamping plate near its lower end, relatively remote from the portion of the test piece, under test, so that graduated pressure is exerted on the latter to avoid local weakening thereof at the edge of the gripping means. Threaded into the lower end of each member 64 is a downwardly extending rod 68, and secured to the lower end of said rod is a weight 69. Adjacent rods 68 may be of different lengths as is mostly clearly shown in Fig. 5. The pan 2| is formed with apertures I0, '10 through which the rods 68 extend. the weights 69 being positioned below said pan. The members 64 are positioned against the rear face of the front wall of the counter frame 36, and said wall may be apertured at H, H and the members 64 formed with bores 12, 12, as is most clearly shown in Figure 6, so that suitable pegs or pins may be inserted through said apertures "H and into bores 72 when the apertures and bores are in alignment. The bores 12 are so positioned longitudinally of the members 64 that the latter will be in raised position when said apertures and bores are aligned, so that. plus; fitted therein will support said members 64 in raised position. This feature of the apparatus utilized when test pieces are being mounted therein.

Mounted in the counter frame 36, in abutting relation to the lower face of partition 24. is a series of laterally abutting guide blocks i5, 15. each of which carries a bearing '56 for the. cam shaft 59. Each guide block 75 is laterallyrc-- cessed in oneside and formed with longitudinally extending slideways for a slide or brake ll, the latter being rectangular in shape and formed with a relatively large transverse aperture l8 through which the camshaft 56 extends. The slide 'i'i also is formed interiorly with a slot or recess #9, Figures 6 and 7, that extends from aperture 18 to the rear end of the slide, and suitably joumaled in said recess is a cam roller 88, the periphery of which extends into aperture I8. Mounted upon cam shaft 58, within aperture 18 of the slide I1, is a cam 8I having a single outwardly projecting cam-lug 8Ia adapted to' strike cam roller 88 during each revolution of cam shaft 58, with the result that slide 11 is moved rearwardly. Mounted between the rear end of each slide 11 and the rear wall of counter frame 38 is a compression spring 82 adapted normally acts as a brake upon member 84 to hold the latter stationary as cam 53 raises and lowers rocker arm 58 and thereby periodically tensions and slackens test piece 82. Periodically the slide I1 is retracted, against the pressure of spring 82, to release member 84 and thereby to permit its static weight 89 to come into operation to remove slack from the test piece by moving member 84 downwardly, this operation occurring during an interval when the rocker arm 58 is resting upon the elevated portion of cam 53, as subsequently will be explained. Since cam shaft 58 rotates only at one-fourth the speed of cam shaft 44, the slack in the test piece is taken up only during every fourth cycle of operation of said cam 53.

The relative strength of the test pieces 82 is determined by the number of flexings and tensionings they undergo before falling, wherefore suitable counting mechanism is associated with each testing unit of the apparatus. Said counting mechanism comprises a driving shaft 85 that is suitably journaled in the counter frame 38, and at one end is provided with a gear 88, Figure that is meshed with a pinion 81 thatis fixed to the hub of gear 49 on the cam shaft 58. The ratio of pinion 81 to gear 88 is 2 to 1, and since the ratio of cam shaft 44 to cam shaft 58 is 4 to 1 it will be seen that the cam shaft 44 will make 10 revolutions to each revolution of shaft 85.

At spaced points along shaft 85, corresponding to the respective testing units of the apparatus, are mounted bevel gears 89, 89, which gears mesh spring 92 that is mounted upon said shaft between a collar 93 thereon and the front wall of counter frame 38, the rearward movement of the shaft being limited by a disc 94 mounted upon the front end thereof. In the rearward position of the shaft 9I the gear 98 thereon is in mesh with a gear 89 on shaft 85. Along its lower margin the front wall of the counter frame 38 is formed with a forwardly extending bracket portion 95 upon which is mounted a series of counting devices 98, 98. The operating shaft of each counting device 98 is provided with a forked arm 91 that straddles a stud.98. that is eccentrically mounted upon the adjacent disc 94 of a shaft 9|, and which projects laterally therefrom in an axial direction. The arrangement permits axial movement of shaft 9| relatively of counting device 98 while they are inoperative engagement with each other. It will be sen that the total number of revtdutions recorded by the counting device will be exactly one-tenth of the number of revolutions of cam shaft 44.

It is desirable, when a test piece 82 fails, that the rocker arm 58 to which said test piece is attached be lifted off the rotating cam 53, and that the counting device 98 be disengaged so that no more revolutions of cam shaft 44 are counted thereon. To this end a plurality of vertically disposed push rods I88, I 88 are slidably mounted in suitableguideways' in the guide blocks 15 and the webs 52, the lower end of each push rod I88 being disposed below counter frame 38 and connected thereat to one end of a lever I8I that is pivotally mounted upon a rod I82 carried by said counter frame. Said lever I8I extends forwardly to a point beyond and below the bracket 95, and is provided thereat with a hand-grip portion I83. In the region of the fulcrum I82 of leverI8I, the latter is formed with an upwardly-extending forked arm I84 that straddles shaft 9I and bears against the rear side of collar 93 thereon, and is adapted, upon occasion, to move said collar and shaft forwardly to disengage bevel gears 89, 98 that are associated with said shaft. The push rod I88 normally is urged upwardly by a compression spring I85 that is mounted thereon between a collar I88, fixed to the push rod, and the top face of partition 24. The push rod I88 normally is retained in lowered position, against the pressure of spring I85, by latching mechanism presently to be described, and in said lowered position the upper end of the push rod is in spaced relation to a boss 58a formed on a laterally projecting portion of rocker arm 58, which boss the push rod will engage in its movement upward, to lift said rocker arm off cam53. The arrangement provides a certain amount of lostgnotion between push rod and rocker arm to limit the height to which the rocker arm is raised.

Each push rod I88 is retained in depressed position, against the pressure of its spring I85, by means of a latch I88 that is engageable with a complemeritally shaped notch or recess I89 formed in the push rod. The latch I88 is mounted upon a short, upwardly projecting arm of an L- V shaped lever I I8 that is pivotally mounted at its elbow upon a rod III that is carried by the counter frame 38. The other arm of lever I I8 normally extends substantially horizontally toward the front of the apparatus, its forward end por-- tion being laterally offset, as shown in Figure 5. and formed with an aperture through which a rod 88, that is connected to member 84, freely passes. The arrangement is such that the push rods I88 normally are in the position shown in Figure 2 during the operation of the apparatus. Upon the failure of a test piece 82, the succeeding rearward movement of the correspondingslide TI releases member 84 and its weight 89 causes it rapidly to drop, thereby causing its lower end to strike the adjacent end of a lever I I8 and l shaft 9|, which structure said lever strikes at the limit of its unlatching movement, as shown in Figure 3! Each lever I I8 normally is maintained in the III latching position shown in Figure 2 by a tension spring H3 that is connected at one end to the medial region of the horizontal arm of said lever, and at its other end is connected to the free end of a lever arm I I4. The respective lever arms II4 are mounted upon a rock shaft H5 that is journaled at two, or more points in the counter frame 30, one end of said rock shaft extending through the adjacent end walls of main frame 22 and being provided thereat with an operating handle H6. The latter normally is in the angular position that maintains the lever arms I I4 and levers H0 in the operative position shown in Figure 2. Said handle may, upon occasion, be turned so as to movl the lever arms I I4 downwardly and thus concurrently to trip all the levers I I0 whereby all of the push rods I 00 are caused to move upwardly to lift all the rocker arms 56 from the cams 53. A keeper member III pivotally mounted upon the front margin of main frame 22 is provided for holding the handle I I6 in the alternative positions mentioned.

In order to provide accurate simulations of the conditions that obtain within a tire during use, it is necessary to conduct the testing of the cord strands under determinate uniform temperature. To this end a plurality of electrically operated heating elements I20, I20 are mounted in the chamber of the housing that is disposed between the vertical partition 25 and the rear cover 21 thereof. Air to .be heated enters said chamber through the slots 26 at the bottom of partition 25, and is withdrawn-from the chamber at the top thereof through ducts I2I, I 2I that extend through top cover 23 and communicate with said chamber at opposite ends thereof. Bafile plates I22, I22 are mounted in the heating chamber to provide such a circulation and intermingling of the air therein as to assure that air withdrawn from the chamber will be of uniform temperature.

The ducts I2I extend to the intake side of respective blowers I24 that are mounted upon the top of the housing, said blowers being driven by an electric motor (not shown) that is mounted in a casing I25 between said blowers. Delivery ducts I26, I26 extend from the delivery side of the respective blowers I24 to the front of the housing where they extend through the top cover 23 thereof immediately back of the glass panes 32, at opposite ends of the test chamber in the housing. Suitable automatically operating mechanism is provided for regulating the heating elements I20 so as to maintain a determinate temperature within the testing chamber, said mechanism comprising a bimetal thermoregulator I21 mounted centrally within 'said testing chamber, and electrically operated switch mechanism (not shown) in a suitable cabinet I28 mounted atop of the motor casing I25. Manually operable switches I29, I29, Figure 1, may be provided for activating the respective upper and lower groups of heating elements I20.

The apparatus is adapted, in the testing of cord strands, closely to simulate the actual conditions that obtain in pneumatic tires of various sizes and inflations, under normal load, and running at various speeds. Certain of the conditions that obtain in a running tire are accentuated in the testing apparatus so as to reduce the time required for making the test. For example, the abnormal strain imposed upon tire cords when'they rebound after being flexed by contact of the tire with the roadway is greatly accentuated in the testing apparatus. Furthermore, the duration of the phase is under a normal load of 915 lbs., and is assumed to be rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow at the rate of 35 M. P. H. At the rate of speed noted, the tire will make one revolution in .12 second. At the inflation mentioned there is a tensile strain on each cord strandof the carcass of substantially 1 pound, and each is elongated about 3%.

That portion of the tire that is in contact with the ground is flattened so that this region of the tire is more or less elliptical in transverse section, the long axis of the ellipse being axially disposed. In the region of maximum flatness, indicated by the letter B in the drawing, the tensile strainon the cords of the tire is substantially zero. The circumferential extremities of said flattened region are indicated by the letters A and C, said region being about 30 in length.

Rearwardly'of the flattened region A-C the .tire is bulged radially outwardly in a relatively short region extending from C to E on thedrawings, which bulge gives the tire a slightly elliptical contour with the long axis of the ellipse disposed radially of the tire. The said bulge in the tire is caused by the rebound or reaction of the tire structure when the deforming pressure present in the flattened region A-C is removed, the cords of the tire carcass snapping into the bulge and thereby being momentarily subjected to greater than normal tension. It is estimated that the tension on the cord strands in the bulge CE is at least one and one-third pounds per strand. The magnitude of the bulge CE depends upon three factors; namely, the air pressure within the tire, the resilience and elasticity of the rubber structure of the tire, and the centrifugal force set up by the rotation of the tire.

Since it is extremely difficult to measure the extent of the bulge in a rotating tire,'the dimension of the same as shown in the drawing is only approximate. In the testing apparatus the cord strands are subjected to strains comparable to those that they undergo in a rotating tire that is inflated and loaded as set forth, which strains are produced primarily by the particular profile of the cam 53.

As is most clearly shown in Figures 8 to 10, the peripheral surface of the cam 53 is divided into a plurality of regions, the limits of which are designated by the letters A to G inclusive. The cam is formed with a concentric arcuate surface extending from A to C in the direction of the arrow, said surface consisting of about 240 of the entire'peripheral surface of the cam. Between C and A the cam is formed with a flat chordal cam surface that intersects the aforesaid arcuate surface at a sharp angle at C and is rounded or curved at its juncture with the aforesaid arcuate surface at A.

In the operation of the cam 53, the cam roller 51 of rocker arm 56 rests thereon, and the cam rotates in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 8 to 10. When the cam is rotated at 420 R. P. M.. the test cord 62 is subjected to test- The normal and sub-normal tensions imposed on ing strains at the same. frequency as comparable strains occur in the tire shown in Figure 12 when running at 35 M. P. H. When the cam 53 is in the position shown in Figure 8, the test piece 62 is taut, and under a tension of about one pound by reason of the static weight of member 64 and the rod 68 and weight 69 suspended therefrom. By reason of the aforesaid tension, the cord has an elongation of about 3%.

As shown in Figure 8, the cam roller 51 is resting upon that region of cam surface C'--A' that is defined by letters F--G. It is in this position.

of the cam that slide 11 periodically is retracted (every fourth revolution of the cam) to release its normal engagement with member 64 for the purpose of causing the latter to take up slack in th test piece and thus assuring that the normal tension of one pound will be maintained. The figure shows slide 11 in the position it occupies when retracted by the cam 8|. The condition of the test piece 62 in this figure is comparable to the condition of the cords in the region extending from E to A, in the direction of the arrow, of the tire shown in Figure 12, and may be considered the normal condition'of the cords in the tire.

In Figure 9 the slide I1 is shown in frictional engagement with member 64; thus holding the latter stationary. The cam roller 51 is shown resting upon the flat cam surface A'C', with the result that the free end of rocker arm 56 is lowered and the test piece slackened to a condition of zero tension. --This condition of the test piece corresponds to the condition of the cords in the tire shown in Figure 12, in the region A--C thereof that is in contact with the roadway, which cords are under sub-normal tension because of the flattened condition of the tire. The roller 51 passes onto the flattened region of the cam 53 smoothly because of the radius at the end of said flattened surface adjacent point A, and the slackened test piece 62 momentarily assumes a spiral disposition as shown, probably because of the twist of its strands.

In Figure 10 the cam roller 51 is shown as it appears after passing of the flattened surface of cam 53 at point C. Because of its momentum, the cam roller does not immediately pass onto the adjacent arcuate surface of the cam, but is thrown radially outwardly of the latter and momentarily is in spaced relation thereto. The resuit is to subject the test piece to a snapping action that imparts a tension thereto that corre-.

sponds to the super-normal tension on the cord strands of an inflated tire in the bulged region thereof defined by the letters CE in Figure ,12. The super-normal tension imparted to the test piece in the apparatus is controlled by the weights 58 carried by the rocker arm 56, for the reason that the momentum of the throw of the latter is controlled by the mass of said weights, Preferably said super-normal tension is considerably greater than the corresponding strains present in the inflated tire in motion for the purpose of reducing the time required for making the test. The region in which the cam roller is removed from the cam isfdeflned by the points C'-E' thereon, the cam roller being shown atits maximum elevation, which is opposite point D on the cam, the latter point corresponding to point D on the tire of Figure 12'.

Referring now to the graph shown in Figure 11, it will be apparent that the cycle of abnormal conditions that obtain in a rotating tire are closely simulated in the improved testing apparatus.

the test piece may be considered identical in value with similar tensions imposed on the cords in a tire. The super-normal tension imposed on the test piece is much greater than the corre sponding tension imposed on the cords in the tire as will be apparent from a comparison of the relative positions of points D and D in the graph. As shown therein, the position of point D indicates that the test piece is subjected to a tension of 3 lbs. whereas the average super-normal pressure of cords in a tire is about lt lbs.

It will also be observed from the graph that the duration of the phase of abnormal tension (.05 see.) is about 40% of the total duration (.12 sec.) of each test cycle, whereas the duration of the period of abnormal tension in the cords of a tire is about 11 of time required for the tire to make one revolution. This is' due to the mechanical exigencies of cam design. It does not materially affect the results obtained by the apparatus since. its only eifect is to shorten the time that the test piece is in the normal tension phase of the operative cycle.

During the test the temperature within the apparatus automatically is maintained at 110 C., which is approximately the temperature in the carcass of a 4 ply, 6.00--16 tire running at 35 M. P. H. under average load. The apparatus tests a plurality of cords at a time, and failure of any cords has no effect on the testing of the other cords. The apparatus closely simulates the actual conditions that obtain in a tire in use and achieves the other advantages set out in the foregoing statement of objects.

Modification may be resortedto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

what is claimed is:

1. In testing apparatus of the character described, the combination of means engaging the respective ends. of .a cord strand and supporting it in vertical position, the lowermost of said cordsupporting means being of determinate weight so as to impose a determinate, normal, tensile strain on the cord, means periodically'engag'ing said lowermost cord supporting member to hold it fixedly in position, and means for periodically moving the uppermost cord-engaging member relatively of the lowermost cord-engaging member to subject the cord to sub-normal tensile strain followed by super-normal tensile strain during intervals when the lower cord-engaging member is fixedly held.

2. In cord testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm having its free end adapted to grip one end of a cord strand, a member of determinate weight suspended from the other end of the cord strand to impart determinate normal tension thereto, periodically releasable means normally holding said member stationary, and means for effecting cyclic angular movement of said rocker arm to relieve all strain and then to impose greater than normal strain upon the cord strands during intervals that the said member is fixedly held.

4. In cord testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm having its free end adapted to grip one end of a cord strand, means for fixedly retaining the opposite end of the cord strand so as to impose a normal tension upon the cord in one position of the rocker arm, and cam means engaging the rocker arm for periodically oscillating it to impose sub-normal followed by super-normal tension on the cord.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4 including means for altering the weight of ,the rocker arm as a means for controlling the super-normal tension applied to the cord.

6. A combination as defined in claim 4 includ-' ing means for periodically taking up the slack arm in a position that imposes a determinate tension to the cord and a minor fiat cam surface that supports the rocker arm in a position that imposes a reduced tension, the profile of the cam and its speed of rotation being such that the rocker arm, in moving from the fiat cam surface, is lifted by its own momentumoff the surface of the cam whereby the cord is subjected to greater tension than obtains when the rocker arm bears upon the major arcuate surface of the cam.

8. In a cord, testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm adapted to support a cord strand at its free end, means for fixedly retaining the other end of the cord strand, a cam engaging said rocker arm for oscillating it to impose varying tensile strains on the cord strand, and means for moving the rocker arm out of engagement with the cam upon breakage of the cord strand.

9. In a cord testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm adapted to support a cord strand from the upper end of the latter, means for fixedly retaining the lower end of the cord strand, a cam upon which said rocker arm rests and which'is adapted to oscillate the latter to impose varying tensile strains on the cord strand, a vertically movable push rod beneath the rocker arm adapted to lift the latter off the cam, and means for moving said push rod upwardly upon the breakage of the cord strand.

10. In a cord testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm adapted to support a cord strand by engagement with the upper end thereof, means for fixedly retaining the lower end of the cord strand, a cam upon which said rocker arm rests and which is adapted to oscillate the latter to impose varying tensile strains on the cord strand, a vertically movable push rod beneath the. rocker arm adapted to lift the latter off the cam, yielding means normally urging said push rod upwardly, latching means normally retaining said push rod in lowered position, against the force of said yielding means, and means for withdrawing said latching means from the push rod to permit the latter to rise upon the breakage of a cord strand.

11. In a cord testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm adapted to support a cord strand from the upper end thereof, means for 'fixedly retaining the lower end of the cord, a rotatable cam upon which the rocker arm rests and which is adapted to oscillate the latter to impose tensile strains of different degrees upon the cord, a vertically movable push rod beneath the rocker arm adapted to lift the latter off the cam, a counter connected to the cam-rotating means for counting rotations of the cam, and means for moving said push rod upwardly and for concurrently disconnecting the counter from its driving means upon breakage of the cord.

12. In a cord testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm adapted to support a cord strand from the upper end thereof, means for fixedly retaining the lower end of the cord, a rotatable cam upon which the rocker arm rests and which is adapted to oscillate the latter to impose tensile strains of varying degree upon the cord, a vertically movable push rod beneath the rocker arm adapted to lift the latter off the cam, spring means normally urging saidpush rod upwardly, latching means normally retaining said push rod in lowered position against the force of said spring, a revolution counter, drive means therefor, yielding means for operatively connecting the counter-driving means with the cam-driving means, and means operating automatically upon the breakage of a test cord for withdrawing said latching means to cause the push rodto lift the rocker arm from the cam and for concurrently disengaging the counterdriving means from the cam-driving means against the force of said yielding means.

13. In a cord testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm having its free end adapted to grip one end of a cord strand, a member of determinate weight suspended from the other end of the cord strand, means for effecting cyclic oscillating movement of the rocker arm, a clamping slide engageable with said weight member, yielding means normally urging the slide toward said weight member for holding the latter stationary, and means for retracting the slide, against the force of said yielding means, in determinate time relation to the oscillation of said rocker arm.

14. In a cord testing apparatus, the combination of a rocker arm having its free end adapted to grip one end of a cord strand, a rotatable cam upon which the rocker arm rests and which is adapted to oscillate the latter, a member of determinate weight suspended from the other end of the cord strand, a clamping slide engageable with said weight member, a spring normally urging the, slide against said weight member for holding the latter stationary, cam means for retracting the slide, against the force of said spring, away from the weight member, and means forrotating said cams at determinate relative speeds.

RAYMOND W. ALLEN. THEODORE A. TE GROTENHUIS. 

